UAE lottery luck shines bright: Indian expat wins Rs 240 crore jackpot, honoring mother's birth month

Abu Dhab(The Uttam Hindu):  In a heartwarming tale of luck and dreams coming true, Anil Kumar Bola, a 29-year-old Indian expatriate living in Abu Dhabi, has won the UAE Lottery's first-ever 100 million dirham (over Rs 240 crore) jackpot. Bola's life has changed forever after winning this grand prize in the 23rd Lucky Day draw on October 18.

Bolla was at home when the lottery team in the UAE called him. "I was in shock," he said. "I was sitting on the couch, and I realized, 'Yes, I've won.'" All seven numbers on the jackpot-winning ticket – 7, 10, 11, 18, 25, 29 (the set of days) and 11 (the set of months) – matched.

Bola's choice of lottery ticket numbers was deeply personal; the number '11' in the month section was a tribute to his mother's birth month.

Bola said he plans to invest the jackpot money wisely and not spend it on luxuries. "I was just thinking about how I need to invest this money, how I need to spend it wisely," he said. "After winning this amount, I realized I have money. Now, I need to put my ideas into action, and I want to do something big."

His list includes buying a supercar and celebrating at a luxurious seven-star hotel. However, his deepest desire is to spend quality time with his loved ones. "I just want to take my family to the UAE, and I want to live with them for the rest of my life," Bola said.

Bola also plans to donate a portion of his winnings to charity, saying doing so would bring him "real happiness."

He thanked the UAE Lottery for this "huge opportunity" and expressed hope that it will continue to bring joy to others. He encouraged others to pursue their dreams, saying, "I believe everything happens for a reason. I encourage every player to keep playing, and surely, one day your luck will shine."